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Packing Woes

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment /

Packing Woes 🛄  Packing woes are only too familiar to those of us who travel; whether with a bicycle or not. What do I need to take? What can I do without? Can an item serve more than one purpose? Both of my duffle bags for RAGBRAI are stuffed. In fact, I might do well to review their contents, and see whether I can take out one or two things. It’s amazing how much space your day-to-day items, such as bath needs, take up! I’m glad I’m not going to be using a touring bike, and carrying all my stuff. The weight adds up fast; and when I’m ready to roll, I’d rather not be weighed down. Ready to Roll 🚲 I’m about ready to roll for RAGBRAI; but first I’ve got to fly. I hope weather conditions don’t ruin my travel plans! So far it doesn’t look like that tropical system in the Gulf will give us much; and I sure hope it stays that way! I’ve been tapering my cycling mileage. Don’t get to RAGBRAI tired, they say! But I don’t want to get there out of condition, either! The forecast for tomorrow says, rain and T-storms. I might not get to ride, so I’ve been riding every day so far this week. Thank goodness I have today and tomorrow to get ready to roll: easing my packing woes; checking my reservations, etcetera. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Packing Woes July 16, 2025 Team Up July 15, 2025 Always Electrolytes! July 14, 2025 Final Week July 13, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Team Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling /

Team Up 🚴‍♂️ In a few days, thousands of  us cyclists will team up for the big ride across Iowa! And there are two personages (is that the correct word?) whom I hope will team up: The Madonna of Ghisallo; and Our Lady of Prompt Succor. The former is the patron saint of cyclists; and citizens of New Orleans  beg the latter for protection against hurricanes. We could use that right now. There’s a system right out there in the Gulf that warrants close watching. I hope that Saharan dust and wind shear team up and destroy it! So far, it looks like we won’t be expecting tropical storm conditions before the end of this week. I’ve been very concerned about that; or am I getting ahead of myself? Getting Ahead ⏭️ Here I go, getting ahead of myself again. I need to save my energy, mental as well as physical, for the upcoming RAGBRAI. And I’m already thinking of how I can train better for the 2026 event! I’ll wait and see how this year’s RAGBRAI goes; and then consider training up for 2026. I might decide that one RAGBRAI is enough; and that would be fine. At least I can say, Hey, I did it! Or I might team up with some other riders whose pace matches  mine; and who knows, it might mean I’ll have someone to travel to Iowa with for next year’s RAGBRAI.  This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Always Electrolytes!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Always Electrolytes! 🧂 Gosh, it’s always electrolytes! In this heat, that’s true even for a short ride of 10 miles. When the temperature is close to 80 degrees before 7:00 am, water alone just isn’t sufficient after half an hour; and I really noticed it this morning. I didn’t use the Camel-Bak because I want it to air out and get as dry as possible before I pack it up in a duffle bag. I thought that plain water would do; but as I’ve said, after 30 minutes of riding I wanted more hydration than plain water. And I was riding easily! Grab That Gatorade! 🐊 So grab that Gatorade! Actually, I go for Gatorade Zero; I can’t drink much regular Gatorade before my stomach starts to feel bloated and uncomfortable. Who needs gut rot? Since it’s always electrolytes, I’ve tried many things over the last dozen years or so. Skratch Labs was one of the earliest; and back then, they made a raspberry flavor that I really liked. Unfortunately it seems to have gone out of existence. Skratch Labs is also high-carb; and as I have prediabetes, I look for low- to no-carb drinks.. I’ve found things at the salvage store that I”ve tried, such as Biosteel and Propel Powder Packets. It’s great when I can experiment with new things at a low cost! Tomorrow I plan to ride 8 or 10 miles; and short a ride as that is, I’ll be sure to grab that Gatorade — I mean, that Gatorade Zero! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Final Week

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Final Week 🌞 🌞 I can hardly believe it’s the final week before RAGBRAI. Where did the time go? Naturally I hope I’m adequately trained; and if I’m not, it’s too late to do anything about it now. I do know that frantic, last-minute training is apt to do more harm than good. So this final week will be devoted to shortish rides; one day off from riding; and getting packed. I’m perusing the NOAA site, so I can get an idea of which day would be best to take a break from the bike. Probably Tuesday or Thursday; but I’ll take it day by day. I still want to keep a bit of intensity in my riding; so today I included a half-dozen 30-second hard efforts. Come to think of it, I’d better make Tuesday the off-bikes day. Taking Thursday off will mean two consecutive days with no riding; and I’d rather avoid that. Day by Day 🌅 RAGBRAI will also be a day by day thing. I’ve been browsing the official website, and  taking pics of the daily route maps. So far I haven’t found a list of what attractions will be available in which town; but I suppose it’s in there! This final week before heading to the big ride is the time to triple check all my lists; not only what to pack, but checklists of things I need to do each evening and each morning during the event. For  example,  I must be sure that my prescriptions are in my Camel-Bak’s pockets each day. If the mileage seems a bit daunting, well, take it day by day. Think of RAGBRAI as a series of rides; not one big huge ride. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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A Fine Line

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Training /

A Fine Line 〰️ There’s a fine line  between tapering your training and maintaining fitness. I wish I had a wise old owl to help me be sure I’m holding that line. I know what I’ve read: reduce distance considerably; but maintain some intensity. And I guess the intense work should be reduced as event time draws closer.  So that’s what I’ve done this week. A day or two ago I spent a total of 6-9 minutes riding hard; and today, a total of three minutes. Tomorrow I plan to ride to the salvage store; and Sunday, I’ll put in 15 miles or so. Then, Monday through Thursday, 10-mile rides. Still with the Camel-Bak; I need to stay used to the load! That’s a fine line, too: enough weight to keep my body used to it; but not too heavy. Then next Friday is travel to RAGBRAI day; and I’ve got double duty in mind for that Camel-Bak! Double Duty 🔀 I like things that can do double duty; it means less stuff that needs storage room. My Camel-Bak can do double duty when I travel! I plan to pack the Camel-Bak shell separately from the reservoir; and, just in case my duffle bag can’t pass the carry-on size test, I’ll pack the stuff I’ll want on the plane in the Camel-Bak. There won’t be many things: a jacket (planes tend to be cold); some snacks; writing materials; and a crossword puzzle book. My duffle bags are supposedly carry-on size; so I should be able to put all my carry-on stuff into the duffle bag. I feel like it’s a fine line, though! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Humpty-Back?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training /

Humpty-Back? 🐪 Wearing a Camel-Bak makes me feel like a humpty-back, as the song says. But being a humpty-back is a good way to bring along enough water for several hours of riding. For me, that’s a necessity. I’d need to ride out of my way to get water if I weren’t carrying it; and I’m not keen on spending money for water if I can bring it from home. Using the Camel-Bak also means I can spare a bottle for electrolyte drink. It’s surprising how much I need that stuff, too. This morning I found myself wishing I had some Propel (or other electrolyte drink); and I wasn’t riding hard; and I was in the park (where it was actually pretty shady); and I rode for barely over an hour. It wasn’t terribly hot, either! Maybe I’m spoiled by having used it almost daily for months.   Spoiled? 😷 I guess you could say I’m spoiled; but not like a rotten apple, I hope! You’d certainly want a mask if you were anywhere in my vicinity. But retirement has me spoiled! I can ride pretty much anytime I want; I don’t have to get up at 4:30 am to get that ride; and lots more! With RAGBRAI in mind, I’ve been riding humpty-back for months. I need to be used to that load, because I’ll want plenty of water during RAGBRAI. I don’t want to be spoiled by riding without a load; and then suffer during the big ride because of it. Today, though, I did take a break from it. I’m tapering for RAGBRAI; and I need a rest from the load once in a while. Just don’t let me get spoiled so that the big event seems too hard! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Pare It Down

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training /

Pare it Down 🍎 Now it’s time to pare it down; and I don’t mean peeling apples. It’s that taper that I keep talking about. I’m reducing the mileage considerably, but today I threw in some intensity work; perhaps five minutes total. I want to keep up a little bit of hard riding, so my legs stay sharp for RAGBRAI. Not that I’m too worried any more about the hills. The maximum grade I’m likely to encounter is about 4%; and as it’s the maximum grade, I probably won’t  be climbing all day. True, there are some grades of 7%+ on the final day, but mostly in the second half of the day. I’ve opted to hop on the halfway shuttle to be sure I get to the finish town on time for the shuttle bus to Omaha. When I look at all the stuff I have to pack, I wish I could pare it down! I won’t be taking seven kits; but there’s still lots of stuff! Lots of Stuff! 🧳 Yes, there’s lots of stuff. It seems that, every time I think I’ve collected everything, I remember something else I’ll need! “Lots of stuff” includes a sleeping bag. And a sheet to use in case it’s too hot inside the sleeping bag; but not so hot that I don’t need some kind of cover. I’m taking three or four pairs of cycling shorts; clean socks for every day; and some merino wool tees. I plan to wash the shorts in the shower each evening; then I won’t need to take seven pairs! I don’t know how easy it might be to buy sugar-free electrolyte drink mixes along the route; so I’m packing Propel Powder Packets; and Nuun tablets as well. The tablets are in a pop-top tube; and that’s easier to manage when my hands are slippery with sweat and sunblock. The list goes on and on. I wish I could pare it down! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Loose Ends

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Loose Ends 😵 I’m starting to tie up loose ends now; and as usual before I travel, I’m getting anxious that I’ll forget something vital! Among the loose ends is tapering my training. It’s so easy to think I can’t be properly prepared if I don’t continue to put in long miles; but I suspect that, if I’m not ready now, it’s too late. As far as cycling shoes go, the hazard of loose ends is why I prefer shoes with velcro closures. Years ago, on the trike, a shoelace came untied; and got caught in the pedal. It was pulled too tightly for me to wiggle my foot out; and I could’t reach it from the saddle to loosen the lace. I had to carefully dismount, and get my foot loose; then untangle the lace. Even that was barely possible! Now I’m looking at the weather for the next few days; and it’s looking wet. Looking Wet 💦 I do not like it when the forecast is looking wet. Apparently rain chance are greater day after tomorrow than tomorrow; but I intended to take tomorrow off from riding. So should I do a ride tomorrow; and take Wednesday off? Probably I should stick to my plan, because I feel like I need a day off. Besides, tomorrow I must take my road bike to the shop to get it shipped to RAGBRAI. Anyway, just because the forecast is looking wet doesn’t mean that rain is guaranteed. Today I gave my bicycle a bit of cleaning — more loose ends to tie up! As a rule, I’m terrible about cleaning my bikes; but I don’t want the bicycle to be too dirty when I’m getting it ready for shipment. I also lubed the chain; and I hope we don’t get rained on in Iowa! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Reining In

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, equipment, Training /

Reining In 🐴 It’s time for me to be reining in the training. Although it’s tempting to keep going at a full gallop, I need to do shorter rides now; and not too much intensity. Today I rode 31.1 miles; and I’m thinking of doing 20 tomorrow. That’s so I can take Tuesday off while I get my road bike shipped off to RAGBRAI. Reining in the training means using the hybrid; and keeping the  distance between 15 and 20 miles per day. Maybe even taking an extra “off” day! Meanwhile, I’ve got packing the bike on my mind. After tomorrow’s ride, I’ll have to lube the chain; and give the bike at least some cleaning — something I’ve never been good at doing! Packing 📦 Oh, packing! Probably the worst part of any travel plans. What do I need to take? What do I have room for? Will I really need this or that? Can an item do more than one thing? I decided to use a bike shipping service rather than buy a bicycle travel case. I’m not comfortable with disassembling my bicycle; and that’s what using a bike travel case would mean. I’ve purchased a bike assembly service in addition to the shipping, so I shouldn’t have to worry that I’ll put my bike together the wrong way. Besides, where will I keep a bicycle travel case at home? If I get much more stuff, I’ll crowd myself right out of here! Reining in isn’t only about tapering my training; it’s about keeping the acquisition of stuff in check! This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Salt and Vinegar?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Salt and Vinegar? 🧂 Do salt and vinegar, aka pickle juice, make a good drink? Today I tried mixing a quarter-cup of dill pickle juice with water to make one pint; and drank a little of it. I wondered whether it would work as an on-bike drink. Full-strength pickle juice at a rest stop is one thing; but I don’t think I’d enjoy sipping at that diluted stuff every five mintes. For on-bike electrolyte drinks, I’ll stick with things like Gatorade Zero. Tomorrow I’ll take along half a giant dill pickle, and eat some of it when I take a break from pedaling. That’ll give me some salt and vinegar without the diluted taste. And the sodium ought to be helpful. They talk about pickles and pickle juice shots at RAGBRAI. I’ve had these things along the Tour de Cure routes; and I’m aware of  how good a shot of pickle juice tastes on a hot day. And now it’s almost time for the final countdown! Less than two weeks to go! Countdown! ⬇️ I can’t believe it’s almost countdown to RAGBRAI time. Now that the event is getting so near, it almost doesn’t seem real! But it is. I’m considering what to do in the next few days as far as riding goes. I was thinking of riding 30 miles tomorrow; and maybe 20 on Monday. But the RAGBRAI training plan shows short rides during this week; 15 miles at most. Also, I’ve read plenty about event training; and I know that it’s counterproductive to try to make up miles in the last week or two before event day. I have only tomorrow and the next day for the road bike; on Tuesday I must get the bike shipped off. That will make the countdown seem more real! Oh, and maybe I should tank up on salt and vinegar before I  head to Iowa? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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